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Leader (1850-1860), 4th August 1855, Edition 2 of 2, Page 20, MADEMOISELLE RACHEL. Tub appearance of M...

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      Egypt's Pi.Ace In Universal History. Egy...

      formerly assumed and maintained that Apappus , whom he describes as head of the sixth dynasty , was the Miens of the Greeks ; and that he is not unwilling to recant a fallacy is proved by his candid disavowal of that belief . This is an incident which ought to -be noticed , because it illustrates the temper in which he is disposed to pursue his . investigation—a spirit of inquiry and not of assertion , a desire to struggle , through dowbts , contradictions , and obscurities , to the true historical light , instead of shrouding himsel in egotism , and declaring ; that a mistake must be no mistake because he had affirmed it . . Neverthelessas we regard ithe believes in much that is disputable ; ana

      , , his main theory , that Eratosthenes is the only exact chronological authority , requires a little more discussion . That Manetho is confused and unintelligible we readily admit He repeated many names , inserted many that were not strictly regal , did not discriminate between sole-regnant and co-regnant kings ,. and calculated the order of time upon a basis which it is impossible for us with any certainty to understand . His lists are at variance with those of the Turin- papyrus , which itself contains several discrepancies . In fact , among a people whose priests adopted dynastic instead of chronological arrangements , who were anxious to multiply the names of monarchs , and whose mothnrl waft oniv intpmrRted loner afterwards bv the historical arithmeticians

      of Greece , what records could we hope to find that were not vitiated by inaccuracy , or injured by confusion ? Eusebius interrupts the Chevalier Buns en ' s reasoning ; but he deals with him like a true Egyptologer , and stigmatises him as an unscrupulous , unsettled , dishonest chronicler , whose reckless levity disturbed the harmonious dynasties of Egypt for the sake of upholding certain pretensions of the Jews . Eusebius , no doubt , was an impudent synchronise but why denounce him wherT his statements are unacceptable , and prefer him when they are pleasing ? It is to Eratosthenes , however , that our antiquarian looks for positive information . That explorer of historical and traditionary archives created a chronology out of a chaos of datesand there was light over the lost lineage of Egypt .

      , The difficulties of Egyptian historical genealogy are increased by the elaborate system of royal names , in which one appellation was often borne by many monarchs of the same dynasty . Agaiu , the register of kings , without a clue to their import , and a corroboration of their testimony , might remain in abundance , andyet be valueless . There were also continual opportunities for error in the practice of copying . In settling the lines of proof , too , we usually find some matter cleared away , some newly arranged , some introduced from arbitrary sources . In every effort of Egyptian research it has , in addition , to be borne in mind , that we are dealing with imperfect and scattered remnants of the monumental edifices on which , if hieroglyphics mean

      anything , the story of the empire is inscribed . Let us add other of the obstacles in the way of historical discovery . Whatever roay be said , Menes—Menu—Minos—Minyas—Mannus—Mens—Man—lias something mythical about his character and name , as the Adam of Egyptian kings , whose life began in a mystery and ended in a miracle , and whose achievements must be explained by translating the symbolism of legends into the plain language of mortal history . As to the reading of the Jackal-sceptre , supposed to mean the name and style of Sesertesen , is there nothing problematical in that ? As the Chevalier warns us , the difference between the probable and the known should

      always he kept in mind , for assuredly the phrases , which continually disturb our faith—the " most have contained , " the " certainly belong , " the * justified in considering , " the " offer another conjecture "—which occur , " not once or twice in this heroic story , " are not those which are found in the repertory of a sure-footed archaeologist or an assured historian . Poor " King Goose , " who figures in the Bbokjpf the Dead , has no place assigned to him in the Chevalier Bunsen ' s regal arrangements , and is , therefore , flung through a gulf of centuries , and lost in sublime obscurity as a being who " may as well have been one of the unchronologtcal kings before Menes . "

      On the old but unsettled question of the purpose for wliich the Pyramids were built , the Chevalier Bunseu has been convinced ; they . were constructed , he says , to serve as tombs , and as tombs only . We wish to know why ? Of their builders , Herodotus knew next to nothing ; the Alexandrian Greeks collected fur more fable than truth concerning them ; and Pliny confessed his total ignorance on the subject . Champollion , Uosellini , Belzoni , Vyse , andBunsen himself , have principally engaged themselves in investigations as to the dynasty which erected these wonderful and immortal works ; but there is enough difficulty connected with that task to teach any modest student not to be sure on a point which profound scholars still hold to be mysterious . We might , however , quote the" Chevalier ' s notice of the middle pyramid , and of its dead occupant during hundreds of ages—a king of ancient Kgypt , whose

      bones are now preserved in the centre of London , — to eIiow that when his quotations fail , he takes refuge in the picturesque . But the next sentence exhibits the airy nature of all speculations on a subject so remote from , the range of certain knowledge . " Mencheres , then , built himself a pyramid , or one was built for him by a , grateful nation under his successor ; probably the germ of the pyramid tinder which his corse was found , " in which , therefore , a third , perhaps a fourth , generation was concerned . Yet there is , in this , « n aspect of perfect assurance , compared with the latitude of conjuncture allowed for us in the following , though it bears on so important a matter as the reality of a royal line , the representatives of

      Egypt during a particular period . From a certain epoch the name of Memphite never occurs in the regal lists . " We must , therefore , either suppose the Imperial series to be carried on iu the Theban , or that none existed at all . We are , however , bound to adopt the former assumption . " And this " assumption" we find ' ' ' is as fully substantiated as we can expect it to be . " Indeed , if we pretend to read Egyptian history at all , we must be satisfied with rather a frequent use of conjecture and assumption . For , let us repeat , it is not to the Chevalier Bunsen ' s theory that we especially object ; we object to the credulity of the Egyptologers in general . They confute each other , and believe in themselves . Mr . Osburne , though he bows nil

      round the nrena , runs full tilt at every knight who appears ; and the Chevalier , though he flatters and praises abundantly , critisisos his friends all to p ieces , and even , on certain topics , quarrels with Dr . Lepsius . The truth is , that , with the exception of his favourite Eratosthenes , whom tic only

      depreciates accidentally , he sails stem on among the whole concourse of antiquarians , and demolishes at least , whatever stands in the way of his own ideas . In the work of demolition we can attest his success ; but , as we have said , we considered the reconstruction of Egyptian history , lo the extent in which philologists believe , to be impossible ; and we are only surprised , after the manner in which the Chevalier Bunsen treats those who have affected to read ethenographv and geography , as well as politics and religion on the monuments of the Nile , that he should attach so much value to modern decipherings , transpositions , and corrections of the hieroglyphic texts . For our part we appreciate the depth of his learning , and the quality of his criticism ; we are willing to allow that , as far as the study of the Nilotic

      remains can be carried , he has carried it ; but we would dissuade our readers from believing that the cloud is yet lifted from old Egypt . Egypt has a place , and an important place , in universal history , but has her language given up its dead ? Are the mystic writings of her kings and priesthoods intelligible to our generation ? We doubt whether they are to such a degree that from them a page of the nation's annals could be restored . Also , may we remark , that the antiquarians are like the builders of a pyramid ; their industry and skill are beyond dispute ; but—Cut Eono ? Patience and conscience like this , applied to modern political and social history , might undo the work of the corrupt and ^ ervile chroniclers whose judgments are now the current coin of opinion .

      T&2 T H E X. Eapeit. [No. 280, Saturday,

      t & 2 T H E X . EAPEIt . [ No . 280 , Saturday ,

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      Mademoiselle Rachel. Tub Appearance Of M...

      MADEMOISELLE RACHEL . Tub appearance of Mademoiselle Rachkl at that bijou of a theatre , the St . James ' s , is always an event . This week it has stirred the expiring embers of an exhausted season into a flame of enthusiasm . The house has been crowded with delighted audiences , and garnished in nooks and corners with critics , all too happy in the foretaste of a sensation . Let us say at once , that the troupe of " most popular artistes" who have accompanied the tragedienne are at least highly respectable elocutionists : very different from the troupe we remember in 1853 ; and the sisters Feuix have the attraction , at least , of resembling their sister .

      Mademoiselle Rachel has seldom , we believe , if ever , acted more finely than on this occasion . She has acted as if her great reputation were at stake in Europe , as indeed it is . Two years ago , when she visited England , it was impossible not to perceive a deterioration of power . She had ceased to act evenly and conscientiously , she almost gabbled at times , in her hurry to reach her " points . " When we heard her at i ' aris , in the winter , there was the same decay of power , the same disrespect for her art , the same indifference to reputation , lit up every now and then by flashes of her old power . The advent of Ristoki , we suppose , has taught her to look to her laurels . when she had to

      Mademoiselle Rachel acts now as she did a reputation make , and made it . In the fierce Camille , in the passion-wasted Phcdrc , in the romantic Adrienne Jjecuuvreury she lius not only excited the many but satisfied the few . She is looking singularly well and strong , almost a little' rounded in outline , and not only the marvellous instinct of her conception , and the electrical fascination of her panther-like grace , have spellbound her audiences , but the finely-shaded expression of her utterance , and the subtle elaboration of her by-play , have recalled her best days to her oldest and most constant admirers . It i 8 true that two-thirds of the stalls never take their eyes off their books of the play , owing , we suppose , to what Fuskli called " de d—d ignorance of de language . " Still there are plenty in tho theatre who can see , hear , and appreciate at once Rachel and Racine , feel the strange terror of those flashing eyes , and taste the perfect beauty of the poet's verse .

      It Was A Tour De Force Worthy Of Tho Roy...

      It was a tour de force worthy of tho Royal Italian Opera to produce one of Meyerbeer ' s most elaborate operas without a single rehearsal . Nevertheless , the Frophete went smoothly on Tuesday night : there was some slight unsteadiness in the chorus once or twice , but on the -whole the opera went brilliantly and effectively . There is not a finer performance to be seen on any stage than tho Fides of the admirable Madame Viardot , and on Tuesday she appeared to be in possession of all her magnificent powers . She sang with consummate skill and force , and her acting , in the cathedral scene especially , remains an example to all who aspire to the rank of dramatic artists , of a perfect conception worked out with equal energy and simplicity . Madame Viakoot wrung the highest testimony of admiration from the audiencethe testimony of tears . Tamjrerlik seemed to be a little out of voice , but he never gave the " lie del Cielo" with moro astonishing vigour , piorcing the audience through and through with his famous C in alt , and his acting was finished and impressive throughout . Mademoiselle Mahai is the best Bertha we have heard . This young lady , by study and perseverance , is taking a high rank in her art : nature has bestowed upon her a sweet face and a delightful

      v . Olcllo , -we observe , is announced for next -week , the last week of the season . Madame Viakdot ' s Dcademona and Tamiikiilik's OteUo aro among the glories of the lyric stage . How is it that OteUo always comes in at the doath of the season ?

      " Englush Opera Flourishes At Dnnny Lank...

      " Englush Opera flourishes at DnnnY Lank . A Miss 1 ) vi : r made her debut last Saturday in the character of Anne , in l ) cr Freyscliutz , with succcsa , and repeated the character on Tuesday .

      We Have T& Apologise For Tho Sad Havoc M...

      We have t & apologise for tho sad havoc made of tho authorship of Wife or No Wife in our last week ' s impression . Wo had written— "by Mr . HisnAun , with Mibb Edith IIkhauo in the part of the heroine . " Our printers made "Misa Kwtu Hkraud" tho author of the play , and a " Mrs . Kiuth Heuaud , " of whose existence wo wore not awnre , the heroine . It is true that another paragraph act . matters right , but wo feel bound to apologise for u blunder not our own , remembering what Aiustotlk Huy « on tho subject of misspelling and mispronouncing names .

      Madomoiacllc Rachel In Announced To Appe...

      Madomoiacllc Rachel in announced to appear in Madame de Qiuardin ' h Lady Tarti { fe t on Monday , and for the very last time in Adrienne Z , ccouvrcur , on Wednesday next .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 4, 1855, page 20, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_04081855/page/20/